Gas Turbine Station Probe Wireless Signal Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current station probes in gas turbine engines face issues with long and expensive wire/pressure line connections to a remotely located control room, which are prone to faults and require time-consuming manual reconnection when moving the engine between test stands, affecting measurement accuracy and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A station probe with a rake portion and an environmental container housing signal conditioning circuitry for local analysis of sensor signals, featuring a wireless communication module and a cooling system to maintain a stable temperature for accurate signal interpretation, eliminating the need for lengthy connections and enabling easy reconfiguration between test stands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are connected to a remotely located control room via long wires and pressure lines, then the control room can interpret sensor signals, but the system becomes expensive, prone to faults, and requires time-consuming manual reconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distributed smart sensors that perform local signal conditioning and processing, rather than having all processing centralized in a remote control room. Each sensor unit independently processes its signals and communicates results, eliminating the need for extensive wiring infrastructure and reducing fault risks in long connections.
Solution Approach 2:
Physical wire and pressure line connections are replaced with wireless communication technology. The smart sensors transmit processed data wirelessly to the control system, eliminating the mechanical connection infrastructure that is prone to faults and requires manual reconnection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual connection and disconnection of sensors is performed each time the engine is moved, then the engine can be repositioned between test stands, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The smart sensor system is self-contained and autonomously functional, requiring no manual reconnection or configuration when moved between test stands. The sensors automatically continue operation and communicate with the control system, eliminating time-consuming manual intervention and potential connection errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart sensor units are designed as universal, stand-alone components that can operate with any test stand or control system through wireless communication. This multi-functionality allows the same sensor system to serve multiple locations without reconfiguration, enabling rapid engine repositioning.
3Ease of manufacture
If signal conditioning circuitry is located remotely in the control room, then centralized signal interpretation is achieved, but long connection lengths increase cost and fault possibilities
Solution Approach 1:
Signal conditioning circuitry is segmented and integrated directly into each smart sensor unit at the measurement location, rather than being centralized remotely. This distributed architecture eliminates long connection lengths while maintaining the functionality of signal processing, reducing both cost and fault possibilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A station probe (10) employed in a gas turbine engine includes a rake portion (12) having a plurality of sensors (20, 22) for sensing conditions in the gas turbine engine. An environmental container (14) attached to the rake portion includes signal conditioning circuitry (30) that locally analyzes sensor signals received from the plurality of sensors to generate measured values, and a communication module (32) for communicating the measured values to a control room.